What Symptoms Indicate High Eye Pressure?

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Quick Answer

High eye pressure, called ocular or intraocular hypertension, causes no symptoms, according to WebMD, but the nerve damage caused by ocular hypertension, a form of glaucoma, does. Regular eye exams are the only way to make sure eye pressure is normal or treat ocular hypertension before nerves are damaged.

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High eye pressure does not necessarily lead to glaucoma, according to National Eye Institute, because each individual's eyes have a different threshold for pressure that may damage the nerves, and glaucoma may even occur without high eye pressure. Regular eye exams are necessary to detect high eye pressure and rule out glaucoma, because glaucoma often goes unnoticed until nerve damage is severe, states Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms such as a loss of peripheral vision, difficulty adjusting to darkness, squinting in response to lights or glare, eye pain, halos or rainbows around lights, or blurred vision indicate glaucoma and warrant a trip to the eye doctor, states the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Other symptoms of glaucoma are a change in the color of the iris, seeing spots or flashes of light, and the loss of vision in one eye.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends getting a comprehensive eye exam every three to five years beginning at the age of 40, or every one to two years for those with other risk factors, according to Mayo Clinic.